Ellee Seymour

I am now heading off to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn where my mother Loula is being admitted this evening for tests because of her heart and breathing difficulties.

She lost her zest for living five years ago after dad died. Now she never looks after herself, dresses warmly or eats well. "What is the point?" is all she ever says.

I spent Saturday with her and pampered her the best I could. I had to call the doctor out to see her last week when she complained of severe pains, and I thought she was improving, but she has now taken a turn for the worse. She lives by her own rules and wouldn’t take the medication the doctor prescribed because she felt she was already taking too many pills.

I wish she would come and stay with me, but she refuses, she likes to be in her own home. But all she does there is worry about something. As she is Greek, I can now understand how her ancestors came to invent the Greek tragedy!

I hope to report back with more positive and cheerful news. I know everyone says this about their mum, but Loula really is one in a million. In fact, that’s not true, as anyone who has met my mum will vouch, she is one in a trillion!

This is a pic I took of my stunning mum during our trip to Greece earlier this year. I very much hope we will have many more together.

Could the poorest countries in the world sue the rich, polluting countries which are deemed to be responsible for climate change by producing excessive carbon emissions?

The Make Wealth History blog tells us that the Bonn Agreement in 2001 recognised that developed countries were largely responsible for climate change and should pay towards alleviating its effects in poorer countries, with several countries promising money, and which we haven’t paid.

It’s not the first time this question has been asked, it was raised in 2001 when a Stephen Timms (is this Stephen Timms MP? I doubt it as Labour had no policy on climate change in 2001) of the New Economics Foundation stated that under the UN international law commission’s draft declaration on state responsibility, US greenhouse gas emissions could constitute an international crime. It is estimated that climate change could cost developing countries up to £6.5 trillion over the next 20 years.

“..all industrialized countries whose emissions are, per person, above a sustainable threshold should be looking over their shoulders. The next message G7 heads of state receive from their poorer cousins may not be an invitation to a reception, or a plea for more aid. It may be much more abrupt: “We’ll see you in court for global warming.”

Make Wealth History asks:

“If we are demonstrably responsible for damage happening now, what’s to stop us being sued for our abuses? Does anyone know of a historical precedent for this?”

Such a case would be a legal minefield and drag on for years. Although it might seem an impossible thought now, whose to say it might not happen in 20 or 30 years time?